Container clamp



N. R. IRRER ET AL CONTAINER CLAMP .Oct 2, 1956 Filed Deo. 3, 1952 nited States Patent-OfE CONTAINER CLAMP j. Norman Robert Irrer and Richard Woodbury,

St. Johns, Niich.

The present invention is a container clamp for use with commercial wide-flanged tanks, vessels and containers which must be sealed, but which must be opened frequently for inspection, experimentation, and addition to the contents thereof.

The clamps heretofore used have proved unsatisfactory where commercial installations require constant sealing and unsealing. Much time is consumed and inconvenience incurred in removing clamping devices by means of screws and bolts for releasing tension, then readjusting the tension when the container tops were replaced. Other container clamps have utilized spring-loading to achieve tension and to minimize delay in fastening and unfastening, but the diiculty in accurately adjusting tensions has proved the spring-loaded devices of dubious worth in industrial application. To achieve the desired structural durability under all conditions, the spring-loaded devices have proved generally to be too complicated in large installations. The present invention is noteworthy for its unique contribution of durability, eiciency, and simplicity.

One of the objects of the present invention is to pro- Y vide a clamp which may be adjusted to hold a tight seal, but which may be readily removed without the inconvenience of manually loosening screws and which may be replaced as easily as it was removed.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a dependable clamp mechanism which may be coordinated with others so that by opening one clamp, all -of the coordinated clamps will be released.

Other objects of this invention will appear as the nature thereof is better understood, and for this purpose reference will be had to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a container showing an installation of coordinated clamping units on the sides, and an individually mounted clamping unit at each end.

Figure 2 is a partial side elevation of a container revealing the engagement of the clamping device on the flange, and showing the bracket-mounting details.

Figure 3 is a side elevation of the L-shaped frame.

Figure 4 is a front elevation of the assembled clamp.

Figure 5 is a side elevation of a sleeve indicating positioning yof the handle for use where clamping units are coordinated.

Figure 6 is a perspective of a detachable set of brackets useful where it is desirable not to encumber the container top with brackets xedly attached.

Referring to the drawings, the L-shaped frame 11 consists preferably of a long square shank 12, although Shanks of other conguration may be satisfactorily employed; a short arm 13 at right angles to the shank 12, which arm 13 is drilled to permit the Xed attachment of a stub 14. At the other end of the shank 12 is a threaded portion 15 integral with the frame 11. The stub 14 provides a xed axle for the roller 16, the axis of the roller 16 being established by the stub 14 at right angles to the frame 11 and odset therefrom so that the roller 16 will clear the frame 11. Jacketing the shank 12 is a sleeve 17, its internal I 2365338 --Fatented Oct. 2, 1956 ice shape (Fig. 5) conforming to the conguration of the shank 12 and operating slidably on the shank 12. The length of the sleeve 17 is somewhat less than the length of the shank 12, but may be varied in length as circumstances may require. To one side of the sleeve 17 is attached a lug 18 which is drilled to accommodate a shaft 19 either pivotally or iixedly, depending upon whether an individual attachment is desired or a gang attachment (coordinating several clamps as shown in Fig. l along the sides of the container). The drilled hole in the lug 13 is so positioned that when the clamp is engaged, as shown in Fig. 2, the shaft 19 is aligned with the stub 14. The container top 20 is provided with pairs of bracket members 21 spaced to accommodate the width of the lug 18 and the brackets 21 are provided with slots 22 into which may be cradled'the shaft 19. The slot 22 is a preferred embodiment to permit easy removal of the-clamps and Ashafts 19 from the container top 20. Other brackets, such as those having holes for the shaft, may be used. In similar manner, the pairs of bracket members 21 may be arranged at different intervals than as indicated in the preferred embodiment shown in Fig. 1. It is also advantageous in some cases for the brackets to be mounted detachably on the container top 20. In such cases, the brackets 21 need not be attached to the container top 20, but may be independent brackets as indicated in Fig. 6. ln one possible modiication the brackets 21 may be eliminated, the lug 18 being so positioned as to pivotally bear directly upon the container top 20 near the periphery thereof. Similarly a direct bearing upon the container may be achieved by mounting a matching roller 16 upon the lug 18.

When a plurality of clamps are desired to be coordinated, a handle 23 is xedly attached to one of the sleeves 17 as indicated in Fig. 5 or may be lixedly attached to the shaft 19. The shaft 19 is welded, or otherwise xedly attached to the lugs 18 with the sleeves 17 being all similarly oriented at a convenient spacing interval and aligned with each other. This manner of mounting is desirable where the container 24 is rectangular in shape and of considerable size. Where the shape of the container 24 is round, or the length of the sides of the container 24 is short, so that a plurality of coordinated clamps is unnecessary, the clamps may be mounted individually. The shafts 19 being relatively short in this application need not be xedly attached to the lug 18 of the sleeve 17. In mounting the clamps individually, the shaft 19 acts to provide a pivot about which the lug 18 and the attached sleeve 17 may rotate.

In operation, the clamps are set in position on the container top 20 With the shafts 19 cradled in the slots 22 of the bracket members 21. A nut 25 which operably engages the threaded portion 15 of the shank 12 is loosened permitting the extension of the L-shaped frame 11 until the roller 16 swings under the flange 26 of the container 24. Then the nut 25 is tightened, forcing a washer 27 down on the sleeve 17 drawing up the shank 12 of the L-shaped frame 11 through the sleeve 17. The roller 16 tangentially engages the liange 26 and the tension applied to the clamp draws the container top 20 and ange 26 together compressibly deforming the gasket 28. Figure 2 shows a clamp in position with the container 24 and the container top 28 cut away to reveal the engagement of the ange 26 and the gasket 28 with the container top 20. To remove the clamps they are rolled oli` of the flange 26. To replace them, the clamps are swung back into position and the same tension is applied when the clamps are rolled back over the ange 26 without substantial adjustment of the nut 25.

Where a series of clamps are employed along the sides of a vessel, container, or tank, a handle 23 (as shown in Fig. 5) is attached preferably to one of the sleeves 17 although attachment of the handle to the shaft 19 has f proved satisfactory and by movement of the handle 23,

the clamps are rotated to swing under the ange 26, adjusted to engage the ange Z6 tensionally as in the case .of the individual mounting. By means of thehandle 23, all or" the clamps attached to the shaft 19 are Simultaneously rolled back, the action of the rollers being permitted by the compressibility of the gasket 28. Y Similarly, the handle 23 permits replacement of the group of clamps on the common shaft 19 in a single action of rolling the clamps back into their tensional position.

In replacing the container top, no readjustment of the tension 'is normally required, the rollers 16 being rolled back under the flanges 26 restoring the tension established bythe original adjustment.

'.From `the foregoing, it can .be seen that the Vclamping device shown has a Wide range of uses where wide ange containers are used. The Yinvention admits of multiple mounting and positive sealing inconjunction with many commercial vessels, containers, and tanks.

lHaving thus described the invention, .it is to be understood that the sameis susceptible to certain changes fully comprehended by the spirit of the invention as herein described and by the scope of the appended claims.

We claim:

1. In a .quick-acting .container clamp for releasably holding a top on a anged container provided with a compressible gasket between said top and the flange of said container, the combination of: a plurality of L-frames each carrying on its short arm a roller; the Shanks of said L-frames being threaded to receive nuts; sleeves around said shanks and means mounted on said sleeves to engage pivotally said container top near its periphery; a shaft xedly aligning said sleeves; a handle xedly attached to one of said sleeves.

2. In a quick-acting container clamp as in claim l said sleeves engaging pivotally brackets xedly attached to said container top near its periphery.

3. In a quick-acting container clamp as in claim 1 said sleeve engaging pivotally brackets detachably mounted on said container top near its periphery.

4. In a quick-acting container clamp for releasably holding a top on a anged container provided with a compressible gasket between said top and the llangeo'f said container, the combination including: an L-frame having a threaded upstanding shank portion and a relatively short arm extending therefrom; a roller attached to said short arm and having an axis of rotation transversely through the short arm of said frame; a sleeve around said shank and having a lug extending therefrom; a'shaft through the lug of said ysleeve having its axis of rotation above the axis of rotation of said roller; a nuttadjustably upon said threaded shank for limiting the upward travel of said sleeve; and a bracket located on the top of said container near the periphery thereof and adapted to journal said shaft pivotally .for varcuate movementof said frame and said attached roller for quick action clamping.

5. In a quick-acting container clamp for releasably holding a top on a ilanged container provided with'ia compressible gasket between said top and the llange .said container, the combination of: an L-frame carrying on its short arm a roller; the shank of said L-frame being threaded to `receive a nut; a sleeve around ysaid shank; and a Vbracket ixedly attached to said container near'--its top and adapted to pivotally engage said sleeve.

v6. In a quick acting container clamp for releasably holding a top on a ilanged container provided with a compressible gasket Ybetween said top and the ange of said container, the combination of: an L-frame carrying on its short arm a roller; the shank of said L-frame being threaded to receive a nut; a sleeve around said shank; and a bracket detachably mounted on said container top near vits periphery and adapted to pivotally engage said sleeve.

References Cited in the ile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS '904,275 Peckham Nov. 17, 1908 1,924,027 VClark Aug. 22, 193'3 1,952,453 Mueller Mar, w27, 1934 FOREIGN PATENTS 622,090 Germany Nov. 19, 1935 

